Gli Uccelli

As I was in my apartment at Meredith, finally going through all of my Sansepolcro belongings, I stopped to to listen to the the birds (gli uccelli) outside of my window singing in the early morning.  Hearing their sweet voices instantly brought me back to my last morning of waking  up in Tuscany. 

Each morning in Sansepolcro, the birds would sing with a sweet melody of greetings.  It always made it cheerful and easy to get out of bed and seize a new day in Italia.  But as I lay in bed that last morning, knowing I would have to say my goodbyes to Sansepolcro in just three hours, I realized something was different in the birds' voices.  I had never heard them sing so loudly...it was almost deafening.  It was much more than simple greetings escaping their little beaks.  I felt as if they were all telling me a bittersweet goodbye.  It was as if they knew I must leave, yet they were pleading me to stay.  I felt torn.  But hearing them on that last morning reminded me of what my time in Sansepolcro had given me.  Sansepolcro, and Italia as a whole, gave me a fresh look onto life, it gave me freedom...it gave me wings.

So, like the beautiful and sweet birds that sang outside of the window that last morning, I knew I had the  ability to fly and soar anywhere I pleased: I finally had wings.

"Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give away beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings."
-Victor Hugo

The Bell Tower

The past two weeks have been jam packed with excursions, travel breaks, rehearsals, and class.  Unfortunately, I have not have time to blog about it all...Don't worry, I'll get to it soon enough.  I just HAD to share my expereince today...One of the most majestic buildings in the town is the campanile (the bell tower).  As I mentioned in earlier blogs, the ringing of the bells is one of my favorite sounds in Sansepolcro.  Today, we were all able to witness it first hand!   We climbed the never ending steps up to the top of the tower...I could see all of Sansepolcro when I reached the top.  The view was magnificent!  We all anxiously awaited for the bell ringing team  to begin their work...needless to say, it was loud once they began!  Although it was loud, it was so beautiful.  Here I am in Italy, standing in a campanile, overlooking a beautiful little town, and the Sunday church bells are ringing 6 feet from my head!

Later today we will all play in the Festival del Gelato!  It should be a lot of fun, and maybe we'll even get some free gelato! hehe
Ciao!

Arezzo and Anghiari

On Saturday we took an excursion to Arezzo and Anghiari. Anghiari is a small, but beautifully rustic town located about 10-12 minutes (by bus) away from Sansepolcro.  It’s placed upon a hill, and looks like a multitude of castles that are strung together.  They are known for their lace, and the quaint, yet very well known linen store, Busatti .   This store’s factory is there, but the stores are located in a few other locations as well.  Ironically, we have made friends with the owner’s son.  His family runs the factory and store in Anghiari. Although Anghiari is  beautiful,  it is COMPLETELY uphill!  Let’s just say my calves look good!

 We were able to go into a small chapel while we were there…I’m not sure of the name right now.  All of the chiesas are so beautiful in Italy. This one had a small pipe organ in the balcony.  In the chiesas, you can light a candle in memory or in honor of someone...you make a small contribution, light the candle, and say a prayer. I said a prayer  and lit one for my mother and father.  We then went to a small museum that opened especially for our group.  It was so interesting!   There were old hearses and tubs where they washed the deceased bodies, along with old sheet music and historical documents of the town. 

Later that day we headed to Arezzo.  But before Arezzo, we had to endure another dreaded and swervy busride.  Out of everything in Italy, the one thing I hate are those damn busrides.   They are  not only nauseating, but  swervy, bumpy, and jerky.  I have done it a total of 8 times now (as of June 1), and it has not gotten any better!

Once we arrived in Arezzo, we took our long awaited picture with Guido of Arezzo.  For you kids who don’t know Guido,  you don’t know what you’re missing.  Guido created solfege  (ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la).  Yeah, we were geeks and all took a picture!  Dr. Lynch and Dr. Vaglio would have been proud!  The main square of Arezzo is beautiful!  In fact, it is where the movie “Life is Beautiful” was filmed.  We ate in a quaint little restruint near the square that had the most  amazing white wine I had ever tasted.   Now, for those of you who know me quite well, you know I love beer.  This wine was up there with some of my favorite beers!  Later that day, we went to Piero della Francesa’s Legends of the True Cross.  The colors were breathtakingly beautiful.  There are two types of restoration: to take off the grime and cement  that hid it for so long and then fill in the blanks OR to take off the grime and leave it as is.  The restoration team on these frescos left is as is, and I was amazed at how all the colors had been preserved  so perfectly.  Piero is famous for portraying biblical scenes with elements of his homeland and period.  For instance, one of the cities in the background of his fresco was Sansepolcro. Although  Arezzo was interesting, but I was ready to get back to Sansepolcro.

It’s kind of odd that I am beginning to call Sansepolcro home.  Of course it’s not my home where I grew up, but it feels like a home.  It’s comforting, warm, and bright.  I don’t want to imagine leaving it for good.  Speaking of “home,” I can’t wait to get back there tomorrow.  I’m in a hostel in St. Agnello, as I am typing this,  and I can’t wait to see my window sill in Sansepolcro!   But Sorrento, Naples, St. Agnello, Capri and Pompeii are other stores…I’ll explain soon, I  promise. 

Ciao!

Day 6: Mi finestra

As I woke up this morning  the chruch bells could be heard in the near distance chiming 8:00 AM.  You could hear the people stirring in the street and the children's voices ringing as they mad their way to school.    Fabrizio, who works at the small cafe across the street, is greeting all of his customers, and suddenly in the far distance I heard the call of something so familiar: that damn cat who has been in heat all week!  Day and night she hasn't stopped calling out into he streets ! ha
All of  the sounds  of Sansepolcro are mesmerizing...I find myself becoming more Italian everyday becasue I love to listen and look from my window.   I  find myself leaning out to hear the birds chirp, to people watch, and to see the beautiful view.
Hearing the church bells from my window make it feel like home.  In the mornings, at home, I can hear the distance chiming of the country, baptist church bells.  Sansepolcro is the same.


The past two days were spent mostly practicing and going to class.  Last night, Ashlee, Jessie, Emily, and myself were all practicing with the windows open.  You could hear us throughout all of the streets.  This Sunday we will perform at the gelato festival in Sansepolcro!  Playing music in Sansepolcro is surreal...I could have never imagined myself doing this.

Lesson 1: Don't ever say Posso avere due cokes....it's coca-cola

Well, I made it!!  I have been here for two days and I absolutely love Sansepolcro!  There is only one phrase too describe this place: out of a story book.   When I stuck my head out of my room window for the first time, the view was breathtaking.  You know that scene in Beauty and The Beast where Belle is walking down the street in the beginning of the movie? Yes, Imagine that.  Although instead of Bonjour, it was Bonjourno! The hustle and bustle of the market, boutiques, and restraunts are below you, the houses are beautiful, and the food is to die for.  Our trip has been pretty darn comedic so far...from giggles on the airplane, to arriving in the Rome airport,  to nights out on the town.

The Italians are very quick to recognize us...blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.  Need I say more? However, they have been very welcoming...a band actually started playing the Star Spangled Banner when we walked by.  In all honesty,  I have never wanted to be a brunette so bad in my life!  The amount of attention is quite overwhelming.

Oh and another adjustment has been the shower situation: one towel, one week. Gah! This is coming from the girl who uses three washcloths a day!!  I'm getting the hang of it though. 

However, if blonde hair and washcloths have been my biggest worries, then I'm quite alright.  There are many more things that could go wrong.  Such as a waitress mistaking your order for a coke for the drug, coke.  Yes, Jessie and I made that mistake.  That's lesson 1 for Study Abroad.   It's Coca-Cola. 

Watch out ya'll! High Maintenance is a comin' to town.

I'll be leaving in less than 48 hours.  Wow. I cannot believe it!  I packed my super outdoorsy mountain pack (courtesy of my friend Liz) for the first time today.  Let me tell you...I look legit.  However, it's a littttle heavy. Okay, way heavy.  But, I can  succesfully run around the house in it.  The pre-trip jitters have already kicked in.  I'm nervous about leaving my parents, my animals, my boyfriend, and everything familiar to me. 

I'm accustomed to spending my summers pool-side or on the beach.   Seersucker, sundresses, wedges and jack rogers  are part of my uniform, and The Avett Brothers or good ol' Carolina Beach music can be heard from  my car.  However, part of this summer will be much, much different.  I'll be trading in my canvas beach tote for a mountain pack and heading to Italy and Switzerland. I'm excited for all of the new sights and people, and especially the food! I'm counting on these next 5 weeks to face me with challenges, laughs, tears, smiles, and new experiences.  Lord Have Mercy...High Maintenance is hittin' Europe.